Prof Musonda urges change of mindset for Zambia is progress

Prof Musonda urges change of mindset for Zambia is progress
Written by Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Sunday, June 28, 2009 4:36:27 PM

COPPERBELT University (CBU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Mutale Musonda has urged Zambians to change their mindsets if the country is to progress.
Speaking on Friday night at his residence when CBU management welcomed new members of staff, Prof Musonda said the greatest challenge the country was facing was innovation and creativity.

"The challenge that Zambia is facing is not to speak English but innovation. Innovation and creativity that is what a child needs at the university," he said.

He said institutions of high learning such as universities should be focusing on producing job producers and not job seekers.

"We need to increase access at any level by way of increasing infrastructure. We need to expand infrastructure in education and increase human resources," said Prof. Musonda.

"Changing the mindset in Zambia is the challenge we are facing; not degrees, this country has everything," he said.

He observed that most Zambians were only interested in the fruits but not in the process.

Prof. Musonda also said that if Zambia was to achieve development in various sectors, there was need to learn to share knowledge.

And Prof Musonda said newly appointed education minister Dora Siliya couldn't provide leadership just as an individual.

"She cannot provide leadership just as an individual, but if we work as a team she would do," he said.

He called for teamwork at all levels of leadership in the country if Zambia was to move forward.

Prof Musonda also said that Zambians should not lose hope as the country was passing through the economic recession.

"Zambians should be determined to succeed. They should learn to sacrifice, selfishness will not help this country move forward. Dreams should be fulfilled through determination and hard work," he said.

Prof Musonda also said that CBU management was seriously looking into the problem of accommodation at the institution.

He said it was not deliberate that students were sleeping in the television room at the campus, saying that the university had just converted the rooms for temporary accommodation.

A couple of months ago, several university students were spending nights in the television room due to inadequate accommodation.